You're making the right choice to get CFI/II/MEI.

I can't speak much for the other guys that went through the Jet courses and are senior to me. However, the ASA recruiter was very correct in saying that timing is everything.

I have a few friends that recently applied to a few regionals, ASA is one of them. They all had around 500-700TT and between 50-100ME. They all received calls back from every airline they applied to except for ASA. I also applied to the same airlines about a week or two later. In those two weeks, the ATA/Aloha/Skybus closures happened, oil passed $115 a barrel, etc. I applied with 1000TT and 50ME and got called back by only Eagle and ASA. I was lucky and got my stuff finished as fast as possible and have both interviews. Eagle gave me a training date, and ASA's interview is coming in about a week and a half. Now for the bad part:

I have seen people drop thousands on getting that last 50 multi and burn bridges at their current employer with the mindset of "I'll get a Regional job with my 400/50, so I'm not going to be productive." These same people are starting to get turned down on their applications, and they are realizing that they don't have a job to go to. If they would have scored a CFI instead of cruising in a multi, they could at least have a flying job. And having a flying job building hours AND getting paid is always better than paying for time. Not to mention you learn A LOT from it. Its also a very rewarding career.

A CFI means a Plan B. And if you always have a plan to follow, your time will continue increasing, and you will always have opportunities.

Good luck!